Treat dad to a day of golf at Westhampton Oasis, courtesy Of Hampton Hills. (Courtesy Photo: Hampton Hills)

The Seltzer Seven Year Pen (Courtesy Photo: ThinkPR)

Southampton - A wise, anonymous scholar is quoted as once saying, "A father is a fellow who has replaced the currency in his wallet with snapshots of his kids." Few people of the post-baby boomer generations could disagree with this statement. Your father gave up his rock-star aspirations at the tender age of 22, taking a measly mail room job to finance his impending family. However, he has been in full support of the soul-searching moratorium that was, or is, your 20s. When you were a teenager, he watched approvingly as you "expressed yourself" with blue hair and a nose ring, having himself sacrificed his rebellious sensibilities for the normative flannel suit and Brooks Brothers tie - the uniform for success.

Your musical preferences derive from afternoon drives in your father's car, his free hand tapping the steering wheel in time to the Allman Brothers Band, or a Stevie Wonder tune. He never told your mother about the time you came home half inebriated from that "study party" at your girlfriend's house, or when you quit your part-time job at the bakery for "political reasons."

For these and other things, you are eternally grateful. No matter what, he was always there with a consoling ear, and a crisp $20 bill to get you through the weekend. He taught you what it means to sacrifice for the people you love, and you always experience a secret satisfaction when your mother labels you "your father's child."

Escape to the Hotel Indigo, and gain instant access to the East End's best championship courses. (Rob Salvatico)

But no matter how much you love your father, no matter how special your relationship to him might be, you always struggle around this same time in early June, sifting through product after product in the Brookstone catalog or at The Art of Shaving, to find him that perfect token of your affection that says it all. According to Dawn Bryan, author of "The Art and Etiquette of Gift Giving", "Although $9.8 billion was spent last year on Fathers' Day gifts in more than 25 countries, frequently little thought or originality went into their selection."

Bryan might be right - when shopping for that gift on Father's Day, it seems all we have is the stereotypic knowledge of the heterosexual male to aid us in our gift-giving endeavors. However, the last time you tried to get creative with that solar powered electronic dictionary, neither you nor your father could get past page two of the instructions manual, before surrendering the gadget to the junk drawer. That handless back massager collects dust in the bottom of his closet, and he never actually attended that Tandoori cooking class at the Learning Annex, even though he assured you through a false smile that he would.

So this Father's Day, its time to think simple, and get back to basics. Here are a slew of thoughtful gift ideas for the number-one dad, that prove to even the most adamant of gender nonconformists, that when it comes to Dad's Day, there is no shame in generalization. And after all, it's about the thought, isn't it?

1. Gentlemen's Golfing Get-Away, Courtesy Of Hotel IndigoAfter an unbearably-balmy Manhattan workweek, with its ceaseless emails, blazing hot subway cars, and sweat-soaked button-down shirts, give your father the gift of Zen on some of the East End's most gorgeous fairways. Let him perfect that somewhat rusty putt with Hotel Indigo's Gentleman's Golf Retreat, a package that combines all one would expect of a first class golf-cation, including an overnight stay at the luxurious Hotel Indigo, and 36 holes of golf on two championship courses. Breakfast and transportation to Cherry Creek Golf Links, Great Rock Golf Club, or Long Island National Golf Club is complimentary. Enjoy a three course dinner for two at Bistro 72, and top off a full day of birdies and eagles with a complimentary cigar and an after dinner drink. Weekdays from $275, Weekends from $375, visit www.indigoeastend.com for more information.

2. Westhampton Oasis, Courtesy Of Hampton HillsIn Hampton's high society, you are barely a man if you do not play golf. One might be unsure where this imperative to putt comes from, but why force your father to challenge convention, when all is at stake is a gorgeous weekend in one of the East End's most serene-yet-challenging fairways. Hampton Hills Country Club is a tranquil oasis located in the middle of a 2,000-acre pine and oak tree preserve in the northwest corner of Westhampton Beach. Featuring five-star dining, a well-stocked library, billiards room and golf shop, the Hampton Hills Country Club offers an unpretentious elegance to all variants of golfers, from bogeys to birdies. For more information on membership, visit www.hamptonhills.com, or call 631-727-6862.

Grateful Dead Cap from No Worries - Life is Good. (Courtesy Photo: No Worries)

3. "Life Is Good." Courtesy Of No WorriesIn the midst of second mortgages and mid-life crises, there is no better time than Father's Day to remind your ever-working patriarch that Life is Good, and his noble efforts are indeed appreciated. No Worries, the first genuine "Life is Good" boutique in Westhampton Beach, is the optimal place to purchase your father a token of optimism. Made with the finest of fabrics for an uber-comfortable look and feel, the Classic Chill "Grateful Dad" cap will prove the perfect consolation for that un-purchased red convertible ($20). If hat hair isn't his thing, go for the classic "Life is Good" Logo Crew Sweatshirt, and give him a piece of wardrobe worth wearing ($50). After all, 100 percent of the company's fundraising profits benefit the Life is Good foundation, supporting children of life-threatening circumstances, from victims of violence to families in extreme poverty. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving. No Worries is located at 126 Main Street, Westhampton Beach. For more information, call (631) 998-3795, or visit www.lifeisgood.com.

4. Meat, Courtesy Of Allen Brother's SteaksIn an age of man-scaping and metrosexualism, nothing could be more considerate than allowing your father to relish his primordial past, channel his inner hunter-gatherer, and masticate the meat cooked directly from his own fire pit. Allen Brother's Steaks, celebrated as the country's leading purveyor of all things beefy and barbecued, offers five-star quality, USDA Prime filets, in a variety of different packages and cuts, to be delivered right to your door. Whether it is Todd's Prime Package (Two six-ounce filets mignon, two six-ounce center-cut eye rib steaks, and two six-ounce baseball-cut strip steaks, $149.95), a Bone-In Filet Mignon Package (Four 12 ounce filets 1.75" thick at $199.95 or four 16 ounce filets 2" thick at $249.95), or a Bone-In Ribeye Package (an assortment of sizes and thickness, from $199.95 to $379.95), let the testosterone surge, as the meat grills. Visit www.allenbrothers.com for more information.

Watch the ball, from drive to putt, from dawn to dusk with Men's Callaway Diablo Octane Sunglasses. (Callaway Golf)

5. Golf Gear, Courtesy Of CallawayLike most Hampton's locales, the imperative to present oneself as the epitome of style is no different on the golf course than it is on Main Street. Thanks to Callaway Golf, recognized worldwide for its performance-enhancing and championship-winning golf equipment, your father can channel his inner Tiger Woods (minus the mistresses), adorn himself in the duds of success, and prove himself an ace among a club full of pars. Let him wear what the Tour Pros wear with the Callaway Tour Authentic Gloves, made from AAA Tour-grade Cabretta leather for unmatched fit, feel, and performance (from $16.99). Watch him earn immediate respect from the most unwilling of golf caddies with the Callaway Hyper-Lite 4.0 Stand Bag, designed with every technological-appendage possible for a four-pound golf bag. Featuring XTT Flex Foot Base Technology with a stable stand system, a foam hip pad for better ventilation and comfort, and 11 storage pouches, including a velour-lined valuables pocket, Callaway will prove itself the Hermès of the fairway (from $159.99, available in nine colors). To complete the look, go for the Men's Callaway Diablo Octane Sunglasses, offering the sharpest and most accurate vision he can get for his game, enabling the most far-sighted of dad's to see angles and lines with utmost precision (from $94.99). For information on these and other Callaway products, visit www.shop.callawaygolf.com.

Be advised: not your average tie, Paul Smith at Go-British. (Courtesy Photo: Go-British)

6. Relaxation Station, Courtesy Of Beezid.comNothing could be more glorious than an early evening nap on Sagg Main Beach in a portable, easy to set up hammock. Nurse those sunburns, and let the sounds of screaming children converge with the crash of the midsummer waves, courtesy of Beezid.com, the most bargain-filled notion to revolutionize online auctions since eBay! Offering thousands of items with discounts over 90 percent, Beezid.com is the ultimate source for all things Father's Day, from Dewalt Drill Combo Sets, to iPad 2's, even Star Wars Light Sabers, for those impossible to shop for variant of fathers. To browse the endless selection of penny auctions, or to bid on your own Portable Folding Hammock with Carry Bag, check out www.beezid.com.

7. Classic Rock, Courtesy Of Jones Beach Summer Concert SeriesSteve Perry might be pushing 60, and one might dismiss Lynyrd Skynyrd to the geriatrics section of the iTunes store, but this summer, many an over-the-hill rock enthusiast will be reliving their glory days at the Jones Beach Theatre. With a line-up including Def Leppard (July 12), Aretha Franklin and Al Green (July 27), Journey (August 17), Jimmy Buffet (August 19), Lynyrd Skynyrd (August 23), and Whitesnake (August 24), unpack those vintage T-Shirts, and dust off those vinyls for a concert experience neither you nor he will forget. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.jonesbeach.com.

8. In Case You Waited Too LongYou had all the best intentions to plan a fantastic, ingenious gift extravaganza for your father this year. You wanted to completely rock his world, surprise him with that one thing he had always wanted but had never even thought to ask for. But, work got too hectic, your dog came down with a case of smallpox, an inundation of endless obstacles befell you, and now you just need something to shove in a gift box and wrap with a bow. For that corporate executive sort of dad, visit www.heavenlytreasures.com for an incredible assortment of cufflinks, to top off a crisp dress shirt as an ideal piece of man flair. For the music media mogul, Fashionation's Macbeth Headphones deliver the smoothest sounds, comfortable padded ear cushions, and 70 percent noise reduction, in a variety of different styles and colors - visit www.merkuryinnovations.com. For that eco-friendly, literary variant of father, Seltzer's Seven Year Pen continues to green-up office supplies, in an assortment of different styles and colors, with ink that can write up two meters a day for seven years. Retailing for $7.50, with proceeds benefitting EarthJustice, this ingenious innovation is likely to become any man's new favorite thing. Check out www.seltzergoods.com to order!

9. If All Else Gails, Go-British!
In the event that you were separated at birth from your biological parents, and your father has remained an enigma to you for the majority of your adolescence and young adult life, and you have not the slightest idea of what he would like, visit www.go-british.co.uk for the best accumulation of all things gifts. From bag to belts, to hats to handkerchiefs, Go-British is the ultimate source for style, with a fabulous British-Prep edge that will prove the perfect addition to any well-groomed man's wardrobe. Namely, the Paul Smith Black Floral Tie, for an understated touch of whimsy for even the most stoic of gentlemen ($112).

Comments

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from
New York
says::
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